Cockeye.



UNKTEE ear aasnnr THORE A, BAKKEN, OF I-IABTLAND, WISCONSIN.

GOGKEYE.

Application filed March 28, 1914.

To all whom it may concern Be it known that I, THoRE A. BAKKEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartland, in the county of lVaukesha and State of Wisconsin, have invented a new and useful Cockeye, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in cockeyes.

The object of the invention is to provide a device of the above mentioned class which will be efficacious and serviceable in use, will snap over and engage a hook, and with the moving portion of the device so designed as to prevent the accumulation of dirtor foreign material therein which would interfore with its free and smooth workings.

A further object is to provide a cockeye including an open frame across which ex tends a bridge member, the bridge member performing the double function of support ing a spring carrying lug and also provides a closing wall for the retractible snap carriage, thus preventing the entrance of dirt or foreign material within the carriage.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as the description proceeds, the invention resides in the combination and arrangement of parts and in the details of construction hereinafter described and claimed, it being understood that changes in the precise embodiment of the invention herein disclosed, can be made within the scope of what is claimed, without departing from the spirit of the invention.

In the drawings accompanying this specification and forming a part thereof, the preferred embodiment of my invention is illustrated, in which Figure 1 is a front view in elevation of my improved cockeye. Fig. 2 is a similar view with one of the side plates of the carriage removed. Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the longitudinal median line of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a cross sectional View taken on the line 4E f of Fig. 1. Fig. 5 is a cross sectional view taken on the line 55 of Fig. 1.

Referring to the drawings in which similar reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, an open frame 5 is provided and includes the spaced guide arms 6 which are connected at their front extremities by the curved end bar 7. The frame thus defined is U-shape in plan and the arms are rigidly held in spaced Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 12, 1915..

Serial No. 827,933.

relation by the strengthening bridge 8. The guide arms are ofiset as at 10 from which point they continue rearwardly and support the trace holding bar 9. The trace holding bar 9 is spaced a distance from the bridge 8, thus providing ample room for the passing of a trace therearound for its securement thereto.

The guide arms 6 are provided with the guideways or tracks 11, each arm being provided with two such tracks, as illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5. A sliding carriage 12 is mounted upon the guideways or tracks 11 and is adapted to advance toward or retract from the curved end bar 7. The carriage is formed with two side plates 13, each of which is provided with the centrally extending spacing and guiding lugs 14: of such dimensions that they contact each with each prior to the engagement of the-side plates with the guideways. Thus when the side plates are drawn rigidly together, they will freely engage the tracks 11 and be adapted to reciprocate thereon. The spacing and guide lugs 14 in addition to holding the side plates in spaced relation, contact with the edge of the tracks 11 and thus prevent the lateral shifting of the carriage. In this con nection it is to be noted that the guideways or tracks 11 are formed by cutting a groove along the sides of the spaced guide arms, thus allowing the side plates to seat therein and lie flush with the edges thereof. This is clearly illustrated in 3, and the particular advantage of which arises from the fact that there will be no outstanding projections which would catch in the ground or adjacent harness or would be liable to fracture were a draft animal to step thereon.

The side plates and lugs are provided with the longitudinally extending semi-cylindrical bores 15 which define a cylindrical opening for the reception and housing of the compression spring 16 therein. The said spring is mounted upon the spring carrying lug 17 which in turn is carried by and extends centrally from the bridge 8. The forward extremity of the compression spring rests against the end of the cylindrical bore and normally maintains the sliding carriage in a forward position as illustrated in Fig. 1. The retracted position of the carriage is indicated by dotted lines in the said figure and designates the position the carriage takes up prior to the securing of a hook thereto or its detachment from such device. The side plates are provided with the alined transversely extending openings fining edge of Which is concaved and arcu ate in a direction opposite to the curvature of the end bar 7. Thus an opening or loop 22 is defined adapted to receive and engage a hook therein. Outstanding bosses 20 are provided upon the side plates of the car riage and thus present finger engaging means for the retraction of the carriage thus providing for its convenient manipulation. The guidevvays 11 of the guide arms stop adjacent the curved end bar 7 andthe extremities thereof define shoulders 23 limiting the forward reciprocation of the carriage so that an opening between the carriage and the end bar 7 Will be, at alltimes, present. The bridge member 8 which extends across and strengthens the arms also provides a closure over and in contact with which the side plates of the carriage move, thus preventing the entrance of foreign material Within the spring housing.

Having thus fully described my invention, What I claim is 1. A device of the class described, comprising a frame, means for securing a flexible element thereto, a bridge member extending across said frame, a reciprocating carriage countersunk Within the side members of the frame, said reciprocating carriage cooperating With the front extremity of the frame to provide an opening for the reception and attachment of a hook, said carriage provided With a longitudinally extending bore opening at the rear, and resilient means housed Within said bore, impinging at its one extremity upon the Wall at one extremity of the bore, and at its remote extremity upon the frame bridge member, the rear open portion of said carriage slidably engaging said bridge member and being closed thereby.

2. A cockeye comprising an open frame with a strap attaching member extending thereacross, a bridge member extending thereacross, a reciprocating carriage countersunk Within the arms of the open frame and including spaced side plates, means holding the side plates in spaced relation and limiting the same to rectilinear motion, the front extremity of the reciprocating carriage and the front extremity of the said frame defining a loop-shaped opening for the reception and attachment of a hook therein, said carriage side plates provided with semi-cylindrical complementary bores extending therein, a compression spring housed Within said bore, said bridge member provided With a forwardly projecting lug receiving and holding the compression spring thereon, the rear open portion of said carriage slidably engaging said bridge member and being closed thereby, and outstanding bosses carried by said carriage for the manipulation thereof.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto ailixed my signature in the presence of tWo Witnesses.

THORE A. BAKKEN.

Vitnesses Gno. W. YOUNG, M. E. DOWNEY.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, .D. C. 

